Justice M. A. Savage of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday issued an order restraining social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), actress Doris Ogala and one Kelvin Chimaobi Emmanuel from mentioning or making references to Dr Chris Okafor, his church or ministry on any platform, pending the determination of a substantive suit filed by the cleric against them.
Dr Okafor is the claimant in the suit marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, while Doris Ogala, VDM and Kelvin Emmanuel are listed as the first, second and third defendants respectively.
The order followed an ex-parte application brought pursuant to Order 43 Rules 1, 2 and 7 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, as well as under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
In his ruling on the application filed by Dr Okafor through his counsel, Mr Ife Ajayi, Justice Savage also restrained the defendants and their agents from publishing, circulating or releasing any alleged private materials, including chats, conversations, text messages, photographs, images or videos relating to the claimant.
The court specifically directed that the defendants must desist from mentioning Dr Chris Okafor’s name, images, pictures or videos, as well as the name of his church, Grace Nation International, also known as Liberation City, either orally or in writing, on social media or any other media platform.
Justice Savage further barred the defendants from making public or sharing with third parties any materials allegedly intended to blackmail or extort money from the claimant, pending the final determination of the suit.
The court also granted an order for substituted service of the originating processes — including the writ of summons, list of witnesses, statements on oath and other documents — through publication in a newspaper.
The case was adjourned to February 2, 2026, for hearing.